Apparatus for cleaning tube bundles



Dec. 28, 1965 Filed July 16, 1964 R. Q. sHEL'roN ETAT. 3,225,777

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TUBE BUNDLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 28, 1965 R. Q. SHELTON ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TUBE BUNDLES Filed July 16, 1964 ---'L'E'LME Jan-' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

INVENTORS ROBERT O. SHELTON FORREST CA PITTMAN ROBERT G. LOVE United States Patent O 3,225,777 APPARATUS FUR CLEANING TUBE BUNDLES Robert Q. Shelton, Forrest C. Pittman, and Robert G.

Love, Duncan, kla., assignors to Halliburton Company, Duncan, kla., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 16, 1964, SerrNo. 383,188 9 Claims. (Cl. 134-141) This invention relates to an apparatus for applying fluid to articles. In particular it relates to a portable apparatus which may be employed under field conditions to clean tube bundles of the type utilized in heat exchanger cornponents of refinery systems or boiler installations.

In maintaining refinery and boiler installations, it frequently is desirable to be able to clean boiler tube bundles in the eld in close proximity to the installation from which they have been withdrawn.

In cleaning boiler tubes under field conditions, it is desirable to provide a cleaning apparatus which is conveniently porta'ble, stable, and capable of safely handling highly pressurized cleaning fluids. It is additionally desirable to provide an apparatus upon which tube bundles may be conveniently loaded, which economizes on the volume of cleaning fluid utilized in any cleaning operation, and which minimizes the extent to which cleaning fluid escapes from the cleaning apparatus so as to create generally messy working conditions. It is additionally desirable to provide such an apparatus which can be adapted to the dimensional characteristics of a variety of tube bundles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus particularly adapted to the Cleaning of tube bundles under field conditions.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide such an improved apparatus which is conveniently portable, which has a low center of gravity, and which is stable while cleaning operations are being performed.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide such an apparatus which can safely handle highly pressurized cleaning fluids so as to enable the thorough cleaning of bundle tubes, even within the interior of the bundle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which facilitates the loading of tube bundles for cleaning purposes.

lAnother object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is individually adaptable to the dimensions of a variety of tube bundles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improved apparatus which economizes on the volume of cleaning fluid used in any cleaning operation and which effectively confines cleaning fluid sprayed within the interior of the lapparatus itself.

In order to accomplish the foregoing objectives there is presented through this invention an apparatus for applying Iuid, such as cleaning fluid, to articles such as boiler tube bundles. This apparatus includes frame means, skid means connected with the frame means, and fluid receptacle means. A pair of roller assemblies are mounted above the fluid receptacle and have spaced axes of rotation. First wall means are mounted on one side of the apparatus. Second wall means are movably connected to the apparatus on the side opposite to that where the first wall means is mounted. Means are provided for securing the second -wall means in a generally upright position. The `second wall means and rst wall means are disposed on the apparatus with the roller assemblies lying therebetween and below the upper edges of the wall means. A spray head assembly is provided which is mounted on the first wall means for movement therealong. Means are included on the apparatus for moving the spray head along the first wall means.

Particular significance is attached to individual structural details of the apparatus which 'both collectively and rre lCe

individually afford unique advantages in the cleaning operation. Such efficacious structural details include a particular roller arrangement and roller assembly drive combination, a unique pivotable wall structure, and a unique arrangement of uid receptacle, roller assemblies, and skid means. Additional structural details of consequence involve an Outrigger assembly supporting rigid conduit means for traversing movement with a spray head assembly, a spray head drive system, and the spray head assembly itself which serves to direct pressurized uid against a tube bundle.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to a preferred apparatus for cleaning tube bundles under field conditions, which apparatus is illustrated in the application drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE l is an end, elevational view of an installed apparatus showing, in phantom lines, a tube bundle to be cleaned;

FIGURE 2 is a side, elevational view of the FIGURE 1 apparatus partially broken away to reveal internal structural details;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional, and fragmentary view of a portion of the FIGURE 2 apparatus as viewed along the section line 3-3;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, elevationalfview of the lower portion of the end of the apparatus, which end is opposite to that shown in FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, schematic, elevational view of a spray head assembly portion of the FIGURE 1 apparatus as seen along the view direction 5--'5.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2, tube Vbundle cleaning apparatus 1 includes base defining skids 2 and 3, each of which extends generally longitudinally of the apparatus and which are mutually spaced as shown in FIGURE 1. Skid 2, which is configured like skid 3, includes a beveled end 2a at one end of the apparatus and an extended, beveled end 2b at the other end of the apparatus. The extended, beveled ends of the skids 2 and 3 may be interconnected by a transverse tubular member 4. Transverse member 4 defines handle-like means to facilitate the dragging of the apparatus by winch means or t-he loading of the apparatus on a truck.

The skid members 2 and 3 may =be interconnected by transverse frame members including tubular conduit members 5 and 6.

-A generally rectangular, open topped, tank-like, fluid receptacle 7 is supported between skids 2 and 3 by means such as the schematically shown receptacle lips 7a and 7b. Lips 7a and 7b may be secured to skids 2 and 3 =by conventional fastening means such as welding, threaded fasteners, etc.

A straining screen 8 is mounted on the open top of receptacle 7 as shown in FIGURE 3, with the screen'S and receptacle '7 both being disposed beneath roller assemblies 9 and 1t).

Roller assemblies 9 and 1l), which are generally identical to each other, are mounted upon framing members extending transversely between and connected wit-h skids 2 and 3. One such transverse framing member 11 is schematically shown in FIGURE 1.

Roller assembly `9, like roller assembly 10, extends generally llongitudinally of the apparatus 1 and comprises an axle 12 journaled in conventional and schematically shown bearing assemblies 13, 14, 1S and 16. Roller assembly 9, like roller assembly 10, includes a first cylindrical roller 17 mounted on the right end of axle 12, when the apparatus is viewed as shown in FIGURE 2, and second and third rollers 18 and 19 mounted on the lef-t end of the apparatus.

Tubes bundles too long to be handled on roller 17 alone -may be supported on rollers 1:8 and 19. Bundles too long for rollers 18 and 19 may be supported on rollers 3 17 and 19 or on rollers 17, 19, and 18. The open left end of the apparatus, when the apparatus is viewed as shown in FIGURE 2, enables an exceptionally long bundle to project beyond rollers 18 and be supported outside of the apparatus by an auxiliary roller assembly, not shown.

Rollers 18 and 19, which are positioned in substantially adjacent relationship, have a total length between roller ends 18a and 19a exceeding the gap between roller ends 19a and 17a, i.e. the axial spacing between rollers 17 and 19. The axial distance between roller ends 19a and 17a is longer than the axial length of roller 17.

Roller assemblies 9 and 10 are individually driven by separate, conventional hydraulic motors 20 and 21 as schematically shown in FIGURE 4. Hydraulic motor 26 may be provided with a drive .gear 22 which is connected to a driven gear 23 carried on roller assembly 9 by a link chain 24. Similarly, hydraulic motor 21 may be provided with a drive gear 25 which is connected to a d-riven gear 26 carried by roller assembly lil through a link chain coupling 27.

Pressurized tuid for `driving hydraulic motor y20 may be supplied from a hydraulic pump, not shown, and transmitted from this pump to a pressurized iiuid inlet 20a by conduit 28. Pressurized fluid exiting from outlet 20b of pump 20 is transmitted to inlet 21a of pump 21. In this fashion, motor 21 is driven in synchronous relation with and by motor 20 so as to effect the synchronous rotation of roller assemblies 9 and 10 in the same rotary direction and at substantially the same rotational velocity. schematically shown conduit 29 may extend from outlet `2lb of motor 21 to the intake side of a hydraulic pump which serves to supply pressurized fluid to the conduit 28.

First wall means 30, which may be'c'onsidered as dening one side of the cleaning apparatus, is secured in a rigid and upright fashion to the skid 2 as shown in FIG- URE 1. Wall means 30 may comprise a plurality of upright wall framing members 31 to which wall sheathing 32 is attached. Wall means 30 extends substantially throughout the longitudinal length of skid 2.

Second wall means 33, defining the opposite side of the apparatus, comprises framing means such as longitudinally spaced, upright framing members 34 to which wall sheathing 35 is attached. As villustrated in FIGURE 1, the upper end 35a `of sheathing 35 is deflected toward iirst wall means 30. The extremity of deected wall end 35a may be stiffened by a longitudinally extending rod or tubular member 36.

A schematically shown hinge joint 37 pivotally connects the lower edge of wall means 33 to a framing member 33 carried by skid 3.

The lower portion of each end of wall means 33 is provided with an abutment defining web which projects toward the rst wall means 30 when the second wall means 33 -is in its upright position. One such web 39 is illustrated in FIGURE 1. This web, like the -unillustrated web at the other end of the Wall means 33, is provided with a transversely extending aperture 40.

The upper surface 11a of framing member 11 defines an abutment surface which cooperates with the lower edge 40a of web 40 to register wall means 33 in an upright position. A lug 41 having a transverse aperture 41a projects upwardly from surface 11a. Lug 41 is disposed on surface 11a so as to be laterally offset but generally contiguous with web `4G* when wall mean-s 33 is in its upright position. In the upright position of wall means 33, apertures 40a and 41a are aligned such that a conventional locking pin, not shown, may be inserted through the aligned apertures so as to secure the wall means 33 in an upright position. As will be appreciated, a similar Wall locking and aligning arrangement is provided at the opposite end of wall means 33.

As illust-rated in FIGURE l, an I-beam type structural member `42 may be mounted on the upper end of first wall means `30. Member 42 extends longitudinally along wall means 30 in generally parallel relationship with skids 2 and 3. An upwardly converging, generally V-shaped top rail 43 is mounted on the top of I-beam 42 while a downwardly converging, generally vf-shaped lower rail 44 is mounted on the lower side of I-beam 42. A spray `head assembly 45 is mounted for sliding movement on rails `43 and 44 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Spray head assembly 45 includes a carriage or body 46. Roller means such as the schematically shown rollers 47 and 48, or other friction reducing members, dene upper, generally V-shaped slide means which open downwardly and are `disposed in mating engagement with upper rail 47.

Friction reduci-ng slide means such as the schematically shown bearings 49 and 50 deiine lower, generally V- shaped slide means which open upwardly and which are disposed in mating engagement with lower rail 44. AS will be appreciated, bearing slide means 47, 4S, 49 and 50 cooperate with V-'shaped rails V43 and 44 to secure carriage `46 to the upper edge of wall means 30 while enabling the carriage 4'6 to slidingly reciprocate along the upper edge of this wall means.

Carriage 46 carries a conventional, conduit periphery embracing clamp 51 which is pivotally secured at pivot connection 52 to carriage 46. Clamp 51 is provided with arcuate slot 52. A schematically shown, threaded fastener 53, which projects transversely from a carriage web 54 through slot 52, provides mean-s for supporting clamp 51 in a selected position of pivotable or incline-d adjustment.

Conduit clamp 51 includes a base portion 51a which is pivotally attached at pivot joint 55 to carriage `46. Clamp 51 additionally includes a mova-ble clamping component 5111. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, clamp components y51a and 5121 together detine a generally cylindrical structure to clampingly receive a conduit section. Clamp members 51a and 51b may be secured in clamping engagement about the outer periphery of a conduit section by mean-s such as threaded fasteners 56.

ISpray head assembly 45 includes an elongate, generally tubular manifold 57. A plurality of tubular members 58 are attached in fluid communicating relationship to manifold 57 and project in generally parallel relationship, transversely of the axis yof this manifold. The `outer or free end of each tubular member y58 is provided with a conventional, jet defining and ow restricting orifice or nozzle fitting `59 as schematically shown in FIGURE l.

Manifold 57 is connected to a rigid con-duit section 60 which is adapted to be clampingly secured by clamp 51 in a desired position of axial displacement or adjustment relative to the clamp 51 and pivotable adjustment rela.- tive to the carriage 46.

Conduit 60 may be provided with an axial swivel joint" 60a having a swivel axis aligned with -the axis of conduit section `60. This swivel joint enables manifold 57 to be rotated relative to clamp `51 when the clamp components 51a and 51h are not tightly embracing the periphery of conduit section 60. This rotational movement of manifold 57 enables the yspacing between jets issuing from the orifices y59 to be varied. This variation of course, while not aifecting the actual distance between the orifices 59 on the manifold 57, does change the distance between jets when measured in and translated to a reference plane extending perpendicular to the axes of roller assemblies `9 and 10 and the reciprocation direction of carriage 46. Thus, the jet pattern may be varied according to the spacings of tubes in an individual bundle so as to obtain maximum or optimum penetration during a cleaning operation.

`Carriage 46 carries at its upper end a short, rigid conduit section 61 which projects generally to the right and away from wall means 30 when the apparatus is viewed as shown in FIGURE 1. Rigid conduit sections 60 and 61 are interconnected by two additional rigid conduit sections 62 and 63 through conventional offset swivel joints 64, 65 and 66. The use of three or more rigid conduit sections such as the sections 60, 63 and 62 and the three swivel joints 64, 65 and 66, provides a collapsible, or hingeable, rigid conduit arrangement enabling the selective positioning of the manifold 57 before described.

As shown in FIGURE l, the pivot or swivel axis 64a of swivel joint 64, the pivot axis 65a of swivel joint 65, and the pivot axis 66a of swivel 66 extend in generally parallel alignment with the direction of reciprocation of carriage 46 such that the hinging action involving rigid conduit sections 60, 63 and 62 occurs in the direction generally perpendicular of the travel direction of carriage 46.

As shown, pivot or swivel axes 64a, 65a and 66a are generally normal to the longitudinal axes of the conduit section 60, 63, 62, and 61 to which they are attached.

Pressurized iiuid is supplied to conduit section 61 through hingedly interconnected rigid conduit sections which are supported on an Outrigger assembly 67. Outrigger assembly 67 is detachably secured to skid 2 which may be viewed as a lower extension or integral portion of first wall means 30.

Outrigger assembly 67 includes structural framing members dening an A-rame 68 which is supported upon base defining I-beams 69 and 70. Pads 71, fabricated of short sections of channel beams, may be connected to the underside of the base members 69 and 70 so as to elevate these members out of immediate ground contact.

A wing member 72 is hingedly connected by a pin type pivot joint 73 to base member 69. The outer end of wing member 72 is provided with a tubular receptable 74 having its tubular axis transverse of the ground surface on which the apparatus is disposed. Similarly, a pivotable wing member 75 is attached by a pin type of pivot joint 76 to base member 70 and is provided at its outer end with a tubular receptable 77. As illustrated, receptacle 77 is also aligned with its tubular axis transverse to the surface supporting the overall apparatus.

Tubular receptacles 74 and 77 are adapted to receive stakes 7 8a and 78b, as shown in FIGURE 2.

Wing 72, like wing 75, may be fabricated from channel beam stock. A pivot pin such as the schematically shown pivot pin 73a may intersect aligned upper and lower lip portions of I-beam 69 and channel beam, wing member 72 so as to hingedly interconnect the wing 72 with the base member 69. Pivot pin 73a may be threaded at opposite ends and provided with threaded securing nuts. Pivot joint 76 may be similarly constructed.

With wings 72 and 75 folded out and staked down, Outrigger assembly 67 is effectively stabilized against swaying or tilting motion which might tend to induce a displacement of the correctly aligned position of the Outrigger assembly. Such movement tendencies are further impeded in soft ground by the tendency of the pads or cleats 71 to partially embed themselves in the ground so as to resist movement of the outrigger assembly 67.

Outrigger assembly 67 includes hinged, rigid conduit means adapted to supply pressurized uid to conduit section 61. This conduit arrangement comprises a relatively short conduit section 79 which is rigidly secured to the upper end of A-frame 68 by conventional fastening means such as welding. Mutually hinged, rigid conduit sections 80 and 81 are interconnected by a conventional offset swivel joint S2, connected by conventional offset swivel joint 83 to conduit section 79, and connected by a conventional oiset swivel joint 84 and union type coupling 85 to conduit section 61.

As shown, the swivel axes 84a, 82a, and 83a of swivel joints 84, 82, and 83, respectively, extend generally perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of carriage 46. Through this arrangement of conduit sections and swivel joints, sections 81 and 80 are adapted to fold in a direction generally paralleling the travel path of carriage 46 and the supporting surface for the apparatus 67 while the carriage 46 translates along the track 43 and 44.

Conventional conduit coupling means such as a union coupling portion 86 may be provided at the free end of conduit section 79 for connection with conduit means, not shown, which extend to a source of pressurized cleaning liuid.

Traversable and hinged conduit sections and 81 may be supported by an inclined support member 87 which iS rigidly axed at its upper end 87a to conduit section 81 adjacent swivel joint 82. Support member 87, at its lower end may carry a generally C-shaped bracket 88 supporting a pivot pin 89. Pin 89 may be journaled on a mounting bracket 90 carried by A-frame 68.

A-frame 68 may be detachably connected to first wall means 30 by a detachable connecting link 91. Link 91 may comprise a length of conventional conduit supporting, at its opposite ends, conventional union coupling portions 92 and 93. A conduit 94 extending from A- frame 68 carries another union coupling portion 95 adapted to be matingly and detachably engaged with union coupling portion 93. A short conduit section 96, extending from skid 2, carries a coupling portion 97 adapted to be matingly and detachably engaged with coupling portion 92.

While the apparatus 1 is being stored or moved between sites, the detachable coupling means 85, 92, 97, 93, and may be unfastened so as to allow the Outrigger assembly 67 to be detached. The A-frame 68 is so configured that with the Wings 72 and 75 folded flush against the base members 69 and 70, the Outrigger 67 may be carried on top of the roller assemblies 9 and 10 and between the wall means 30 and 33.

This ability of the Outrigger assembly 67 to be stored between the wall means 30 and 33 is facilitated by dimensioning the base members 69 and 70 such that the A- frame straddles the roller assemblies 9 and 10 and is spaced slightly above them while the base members 69 and 70 rest on cross framing members, such as the member 11 shown in FIGURE 1.

The system for effecting reciprocation of carriage 46 along tracks 43 and 44 includes hydraulic driving motor 98 operated by a source of pressurized fluid, not shown. An endless chain 99 is driven by motor 98, and a sprocket wheel 100, mounted on framing member 42, is in turn driven by chain 99. A smaller sprocket wheel 101 is mounted coaxially with sprocket wheel 101 and transmits driving energy to an endless link chain 102. Link chain 102 is supported at one end by sprocket 101 and by the sprocket wheel 103 at its other end as schematically shown in FIGURE 2. Endless chain 102 is mounted so that its iiights extend generally parallel with the axes of rotation of roller assemblies 9 and 10.

A connecting bracket 104 extends from carriage 46 and is attached to the upper iiight 102a of link chain '102.

In order to effect the reciprocation of carriage 46 along the upper edge of first wall means 30, the travel direction of link chain 102 is reversed while carriage 46 is within the extremities of its travel path between sprocket wheels 101 and 103.

The mechanism for effecting the reversal of direction of link chain 102 is illustrated in FIGURE 5.

A conventional slideetype of reversing valve 98a, operably connected with the motor 98, is mounted on a bracket 105 secured to frame member 42. A slidable rod-like member 106 extends from reversing valve 99 and is slidably supported in apertured mounting blocks, such as the blocks 107 and 108 shown in FIGURE 5.

Slide rod 106 carries a first abutment 109 which is slidably mounted on rod 106 and which may be secured in a desired position by a conventional threaded clamp 110. A second abutment 111 is also mounted on rod 106 and may be secured in a desired position by conventional threaded clamp 112.

Carriage 46 carries a third abutment 113 which projects into a position longitudinally intermediate the abutments 109 and 111.

With the apparatus components `arranged as shown in FIGURE 5, and with the carriage 46 traversing to the left, when carriage abutment 113 engages slide rod abutment 109, reversing valve 98a is actuated to reverse the direction of motor 9S so as to cause a reversal in travel direction of link chain 102. This motor reversal causes: carriage 46 to traverse toward the right until abutment 113 engages slide rod abutment 111. At this point reversingvalve 98a is again actuated through abutment induced movement of slide rod 106 such that the direction of motor 98 is again reversed and carriage 46 again traverses toward the left.

Abutments 109 and 111 may be selectively positioned along the slide rod 106 in accordance with the length of a tube bundle being cleaned. In this manner, the reciprocating path of a spray head may be substantially confined to the length of the tube bundle.

As will be appreciated, the reversing arrangement heretofore described may be replaced by a conventional, electrical control system where the motor 98 is electrical in character. In this type of system, a conventional reversing switch would be substituted for the reversing valve 98a.

With the overall apparatus having been described, the mater in which a representative tube bundle cleaning operation is accomplished may now be set forth.

Wtih the pivoted wall means 33 lowered to the phantom line position shown in FIGURE l, a tube bundle'T may be moved, by appropriate hoisting means, onto the roller assemblies 9 and 10. Under certain conditions, wall means 33, in its lower position, might be employed as an inclined ramp to facilitate the loading of a bundle tube by rolling the bundle tube up the ramp and on the assemblies 9 and 10.

The position of the spray orifices or nozzles 59 relative to the tube bundle T may be adjusted to suit the particular characteristics of this bundle. Conduit 60 may be rotated about its axis, with clamp 51 loosened, so as to obtain a spacing of the nozzles 59 which will enable maximum penetration of the tube bundle. Threaded fastener 53 may be loosened so that a desired position of tilt or inclination of conduit 60 may be obtained. With clamp 51 loosened, conduit 60 may be displaced axially through the clamp so as to position the nozzles 59 in optimum proximity to the periphery of the tube bundle.

Prior to the initiation of the spraying or cleaning operation the second wall means 33 is raised to an upright posi- -tion and locked in position by locking pins as hereinbefore described.

In order to initiate the cleaning operation, roller assemblies 9 and 10 are rotated so as to effect the rotation of the tube bundle T through ffrictional engagement of the rollers carried by these assemblies with the rims of the bundle T. Actuation of the motor 98 initiates the reciprocating or traversing movement of the spray nozzles 59 longitudinally along the tube bundle axis while the bundle is being rotated. Pressurized fiuid is supplied from a conventional hydraulic pump to coupling 86 for transmittal through the conduits carried by the Outrigger assembly 67 to the hinged conduits of the spray head assembly 45 and thence to the spray nozzles 59. Cleaning fluid discharged from the nozzles 59 passes through screen 8 and and is collected in receptacle 7.

An outlet 114 may be connected in the lower portion of receptacle 7 and connected with the suction side of the hydraulic pump which supplies pressurized fluid to coupling S6. In this manner a substantially continuous circulation of clean-ing fluid may be maintained with additional fluid being added as required to the reservoir 7. As will be appreciated, cleaning agents may be added directly to fluid within the reservoir 7.

While the spraying operation is taking place, the upright and generally parallel wall means 30 and 33 effectively confine the jets issuing from the nozzles 59 so as to both conserve on cleaning fluid and prevent the 8 creation of messy working conditions surrounding the apparatus.

In describing the structure and mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of a cleaning apparatus, several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated.

Through the unique utilization of skid mounted rollers, in combination with the detachable and interiorly storable Outrigger assembly, the apparatus is characterized by overall portability which leads itself particularly to field cleaning operations.

The circulation reservoir carried between the apparatus skids provides for a stabilizing low center of gravity and an efficient fluid circulating system.

The hinged wall of the apparatus facilitates loading of tube bundles. In conjunction with the stationary wall, the hinged wall effectively confines cleaning fluid to the interior of the apparatus.

The individually driven rollers serve to effectively transmit driving power to a bundle tube even when the bundle tube has a non-symmetrical distribution of weight. This individual, roller-assembly-driving arrangement thus insures the maintenance of effective driving relationship with a tube bundle throughout the cleaning operation.

The spray head supporting arrangement is particularly advantageous owing to the manner in which it enables cleaning operations to be adapted to the particular structural and dimensional characteristics of a tube bundle being cleaned.

The drive mechanism for the spray head carriage :serves to effectively induce the reversal of the spray head vat the extremities of its reciprocating path and enables the extent of this reciprocating path to be conveniently and easily adjusted.

The specific, three roller arrangement incorporated in each roller assembly enables a variety of tube bundle lengths to be handled without necessitating the length of continuous rollers throughout the length of the roller assembly.

The utilization of swivel, interconnected, rigid conduit sections throughout the apparatus enables highly pressurized cleaning fluid to be safely and conveniently handled. The unique disposition of swivel joints and conduit sections enables a conduit section folding action to be accomplished, while the spray head accomplishes its traversing movement, without interfering with the cleaning operation or with personnel conducting the cleaning operation.

The overall apparatus is characterized by unique structural simplicity and functional reliability which contributes to the success of field cleaning operations.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art and familiar with this disclosure of the invention may well envision additions, deletions, substitutions or other modifications with respect to disclosed structural details or modes of operation of components of the apparatus, which modifications would fall within the purview of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for cleaning tube bundles, said apparatus comprising:

frame means;

skid means connected with said frame means;

fluid receptacle means connected with said frame means;

a pair of roller assemblies connected with said frame means, mounted above said receptacle, and having spaced axes of rotation;

rst wall means connected with said frame means, rigidly mounted on one side of said apparatus, and extending generally parallel to said roller assemblies;

second wall means connected with said frame means, said second wall means being pivotably connected along a lower edge thereof to said apparatus on the 9 side of said apparatus opposite to that where said first wall means is mounted; means for securing said pivotable second wall means in an upright position generally paralleling said first l means for securing said clamp means in a selected position of pivotable adjustment, carriage means supporting said clamp means and said pivot mounting means,

wall means; upper, generally V-shaped slide means carried by said second wall means and said first wall means being said carriage means and opening downwardly, dispose-d on said apparatus with said roller assemlower, generally V-shaped slide means carried by blies lying therebetween and below the upper edges said carriage means and opening upwardly, of said wall means; a manifold carried by one of said conduit sections, aspray head assembly; lo a plurality of tubular members carried by said mounting means for mounting said spray head assemmanifold and communicating through said bly on said first wall means for longitudinal recipromanifold with the interior of said interconcation therealong; nected conduit sections, and means for reciprocably moving said spray head along flow restricting orifice means carried at an outersaid first wall means; most free end of each of said tubular members; an Outrigger assembly adapted to be detachably semounting means for mounting said spray head assemcured to said first wall means and project laterally bly on said first wall means for longitudinal reciproaway from said roller assemblies; cation therealong and including conduit means comprising a plurality of rigid conduit upper, generally V-shaped mounting rail carried sections interconnected by swivel joint means, with by said first wall means and adapted t-o matone end of said conduit means being detachably coningly engage said upper, V-shaped slide means, nected to said spray head, and another end of said and conduit means being mounted on said outrigger aslower V-shaped rail means carried by said first sembly and adapted to be connected to a source of wall means and adapted to matingly engage pressurized fiuid; said lower, V-shaped slide means; arm means interconnecting said conduit means and means for reciprocably moving said spray head along said Outrigger assembly; said first Wall means; first pivot means having a vertical pivot axis attaching an .Outrigger assembly adapted i0 be detachably sesaid arm means to said Outrigger assembly; cured to said first wall means and project laterally Said arm means being attached al; One end With a pOraway from said roller assemblies; and

tion of said conduit means and attached at an opconduit means comprising a plurality of rigid cond-uit posite end with said first pivot means; and sections interconnected by swivel joint means, with second pivot means having a vertical pivot axis Subone end of said conduit means being detachably constantially coincident with the pivot axis of said first nested to said spray head, and another end .of said pivot means and connecting said portion of said conduit means being mounted on said Outrigger as- Condnit means With said outrigger assembly for sembly and adapted to be connected to a source of pivotable movement about said axis, with said secpressurized fluid, ond Pivot Ineens Comprising a sWiVel loint of Said 3. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said conduit means. means for reciprocably moving said spray head assembly 2. An apparatus for cleaning tube bundles, said appacomprises; ratus comprising: hydraulic motor means;

frame means; sprocket wheel means driven by said hydraulic motor skid means connected with said frame means; means; llnid receptacle means Connected With said frame endless chain means drivenly engaged by said sprocket means; wheel means and extending generally longitudinally a pair of roller assemblies connected with said frame of said first Wall means;

means, mounted abOVe said receptacle, and having mounting bracket means interconnecting said carriage spaced aires of rotation; means and said endless chain means; ISt Wall means Connected Said frame means, a reVI-Sing Valve means adapted to revers@ Said hyrigidly mounted on one side of said apparatus, and drnnlie motor means; extending generally Parallel to said roller nssemrod means connected to said reversing valve, extending blies; generally longitudinally of said first wall means, and second wall means connected with said frame means, mounted for longitudinal reciprocation;

Said Second Well means being piyotably Connected adjustable, first and second abutment means carried along a lower edge thereof to said apparatus on the by said rod means; side of said apparatus Opposite to that Where said third abutment means carried by said carriage means first Wall means is mounted; and disposed between said first and second abutment means for securing said pivotable second Wall means means whereby movement of said carriage in one in an Upright Position generally parelleling seid direction causes said third abutment means to enfirst wall means; T gage said first abutment means so as to actuate said said second wall means and said first wall means being reversing valve and sans@ said endless chain means disposed on said apparatus With seid roller assemto drive said carriage means along said first wall blies lying tilerebetWeen and beloW the upper edges means in one direction and whereby said'third abutof said wall means; ment means thereafter engages said second abuts spray bead assembly, said spray head assembly in' 65 ment means so as to actuate said reversing valve cluding means and cause said endless chain means to drive at least three rigid conduit sections hingedly insaid carriage means in an opposite direction.

terconnected by swivel joint means, with the 4. An apparatus as described in claim 3: swivel axis Of Said SWiVel joint means being wherein said Outrigger assembly comprises normal to the longitudinal axis of the conduit an A-frsrne; sections to whichthey are attached, an elongate connecting member detachably sea mounting bracket comprising clamp means cured at one end to said A-frame and detachably adapted to adjustably engage a rigid conduit secured at another end to said skid means; section, pivotable wing members carried on opposite sides pivot mounting means for said clamp means, of said A-frame;

a tubular receptacle mounted at the outer free end of each wing member and having its tubular axis transverse to a surface supporting said A- frame; and

an inclined support member pivotably mounted at its lower end to said A-frame and connected at its upper end to a portion of said conduit means;

said outrigger assembly being so configured as to be able to be positioned between said first and second wall means when detached from said first wall means;

wherein said second wall means includes:

apertured abutment means carried along the lower portion of said second wall means and adapted to project toward said first Wall means; and

an upper edge portion defiected inwardly generally toward said first wall means; and

wherein said apparatus further includes apertured lug means projecting upwardly from abutment surface means on said frame means;

said abutment means of said second wall means being adapted to engage said abutment surface means so as to define the upright position of said second wall means;

said abutment means being aligned with said apertured lug means when said second wall means is in its upright position so as to enable locking pin means to be inserted through said apertured lug means and said apertured abutment means to longitudinally secure said second wall means in its upright position;

wherein said skid means comprises first and second skids extending longitudinally of said apparatus with said receptale means mounted therebetween; and.

wherein the swivel axes of said swivel joint means of said conduit means mounted on said Outrigger assembly are generally perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said carriage means and the swivel axes of the swivel joint means of said spray head assembly are generally parallel to said direction of reciprocation;

said apparatus further including:

first hydraulic motor means drivingly connected with one of said roller assemblies;

second hydraulic motor means driven by fiuid discharged from said first hydraulic motor means and drivingly connected with the other of said roller assemblies;

a first roller carried at one end of each roller assembly; and

second and third, adjacent rollers carried at the opposite end of each roller assembly and spaced from said first roller by an axial distance less than the axial distance between the extremities of said second and third rollers but greater than the axial length of said first roller.

5. An apparatus for cleaning tube bundles, said apparatus comprising:

frame means;

skid means connected with said frame means;

uid receptacle means connected with said frame means;

a pair of roller assemblies connected with said frame means, mounted above said receptacle, and having spaced axes of rotation;

first wall means connected with said frame means,

rigidly mounted on one side of said apparatus, and extending generally parallel to said roller assemblies;

second wall means connected with said frame means, said second wall means being pivotably connected along a lower edge thereof to said apparatus on the side of said apparatus opposite to that where said first wall means is mounted;

means for securing said pivotable second Wall means in an upright position generally paralleling said first wall means;

a spray head assembly;

mounting means for mounting said spray head assembly on said first wall means for longitudinal reciprocation therealong;

means for reciprocably moving said spray head along said first wall means;

an Outrigger assembly adapted to be detachably secured to said first wall means and project laterally away from said roller assemblies, said Outrigger assembly including an A-frame;

an elongate connecting member detachably secured at one end to said A-frame and detachably secured at another end to said skid means,

pivotable wing members carried on opposite sides of said A-frame,

a tubular receptacle mounted at the outer free end of each wing member and having its tubular axis transverse to a surface suporting said A-frame, and

an inclined support member pivotably mounted at its lower end to said A-frame and connected at its upper end to a portion of said conduit means; and

conduit means comprising a plurality of rigid conduit sections interconnected by swivel joint means, with one end of said conduit means being detachably connected to said spray head, and another end of said conduit means being mounted on said Outrigger assembly and adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized fluid.

6. An apparatus for cleaning tube bundles, said apparatus comprising:

frame means;

skid means connected with said frame means;

fluid receptacle means connected with said frame means;

a pair of roller assemblies connected with said frame means7 mounted above said receptacle, and having spaced axes of rotation;

first wall means connected with said frame means, rigidly mounted on one side of said apparatus, and extending generally parallel to said roller assemblies;

second wall means connected with said frame means, said second wall means being pivotably connected along a lower edge thereof to said apparatus on the side of said apparatus opposite to that where said first wall means is mounted;

means for securing said pivotable second wall means in an upright position generally paralleling said first wall means;

said second wall means and said first wall means being disposed on said apparatus with said roller assemblies lying therebetween and below the upper edges of said Wall means;

a spray head assembly;

mounting means for mounting said spray head assembly on said first wall means for longitudinal reciprocation therealong;

means for reciprocably moving said spray head along said first wall means;

an Outrigger assembly adapted to be detachably secured to said first wall means and project laterally away from said roller assemblies;

conduit means comprising a plurality of rigid conduit sections interconnected by swivel joint means, with one end of said conduit means being detachably connected to said spray head, and another end of said conduit means being mounted on said Outrigger assembly and adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized Huid;

first hydraulic motor means drivingly connected with one of said roller assemblies;

second hydraulic motor means driven by fluid discharged from said first hydraulic motor means and drivingly connected with the other of said roller assemblies;

a first roller carried at one end of each roller assembly;

and

second and third, adjacent rollers carried at the opposite end of each roller assembly and spaced from said rst roller by an axial distance less than the axial distance between the extremities of said second and third rollers but greater than the axial length of said rst roller.

7. An apparatus for applying fluid to articles, said apparatus comprising:

frame means;

skid means connected with said frame means;

uid receptacle means connected with said frame means;

roller assembly means mounted above said receptacle;

rst wall means mounted on said apparatus and connected with `said frame means;

second, movable wall means mounted on the side of said apparatus opposite to that where said irst wall means is mounted and connected with said frame means;

said second wall means and `said tirst wall means being disposed on said apparatus with said roller assembly means lying therebetween;

a spray head assembly;

mounting means for mounting said spray head assembly on said rst wall means for movement therealong;

means for moving said spray head along said first wall means;

conduit means including rigid conduit sections connected by swivel joint means for supplying pressurized fluid to said spray head assembly;

an Outrigger assembly connected with and disposed laterally outwardly of said frame means;

arm means interconnecting said conduit means and said Outrigger assembly;

rst pivot means having a vertical pivot axis attaching said arm means to said Outrigger assembly;

said arm means being attached at one end with a portion of said conduit means and attached at an opposite end with said rst pivot means; and

second pivot means having a vertical pivot axis substantially coincident with the pivot axis of said first pivot means and connecting said portion of said conduit means with said Outrigger assembly for pivotable movement about said axis, with said second pivot means comprising a swivel joint of said conduit means.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said spray head assembly includes:

a conduit section,

a manifold mounted on said conduit in fluid communicating relationship therewith,

a plurality of spaced nozzles mounted on said manifold in communicating relationship therewith,

swivel means supporting said conduit section whereby said conduit section may be rotated about its longitudinal axis,

said nozzles being spaced in a direction extending transversely of said longitudinal axis of said rotatable conduit section,

means for displacing said manifold and conduit section along the axis of said conduit section; and

means for changing the inclination of said conduit section.

9. An apparatus for applying pressurized fluid to articles, said apparatus comprising:

frame means;

fluid discharging means movably mounted upon said frame means;

Outrigger means adapted to be movable relative to said frame means;

means for connecting said Outrigger means in spaced,

rigid relation with said frame means; and

conduit means comprising a plurality of rigid conduit sections interconnected by swivel joint means, with one end of said conduit means being detachably connected with said uid discharging means and with another end of said conduit means being mounted on said Outrigger means and adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized fluid;

skid means connected with said frame means;

arm means interconnecting said conduit means and said Outrigger means;

first pivot means having a vertical pivot axis attaching said arm means to said Outrigger means;

said arm means being attached at one end with a portion of said conduit means and attached at an Opposite end with said rst pivot means; and

second pivot means having a vertical pivot axis substantially coincident with the pivot axis of said rst pivot means and connecting said portion of said conduit means with said Outrigger means for pivotable movement about said axis, with said second pivot means comprising a swivel joint of said conduit means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 192,728 7/1877 Bailey 239-587 X 2,100,343 11/1937 Maycen 239-186 2,697,006 12/1954 Bily 239-186 3,052,245 9/1962 Nagle 134-144 3,060,064 10/1962 Zingg 134-144 X 3,121,037 2/1964 Boitos 134-153 X FOREIGN PATENTS 493,468 6/ 1953 Canada.

75,431 2/ 1919 Germany. 39,897 3/ 1912 Sweden.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner. 

9. AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRESSURIZED FLUID TO ARTICLES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: FRAME MEANS, FLUID DISCHARGING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME MEANS; OUTRIGGER MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME MEANS; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID OUTRIGGER MEANS IN SPACED, RIGID RELATION WITH SAID FRAME MEANS; AND CONDUIT MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RIGID CONDUIT SECTIONS INTERCONNECED BY SWIVEL JOINT MEANS, WITH ONE END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS BEING DETACHABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID FLUID DISCHARGING MEANS AND WITH ANOTHER END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID OUTRIGGER MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED FLUID; SKID MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID FRAME MEANS; ARM MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CONDUIT MEANS AND SAID OUTRIGGER MEANS; FIRST PIVOT MEANS HAVING A VERTICAL PIVOT AXIS ATTACHING SAID ARM MEANS TO SAID OUTRIGGER MEANS; SAID ARMS MEANS BEING ATTACHED AT ONE END WITH A PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS AND ATTACHED AT AN OPPOSITE END WITH SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS; AND SECOND PIVOT MEANS HAVING A VETICAL PIVOT AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS WITH SAID OUTRIGGER MEANS FOR PIVOTABLE MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS, WITH SAID SECOND PIVOT MEANS COMPRISING A SWIVEL JOINT OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS. 